Mr. Pickett grew up in the Caldwell, Idaho area and attended Vallivue High School. He was an all-state football and basketball competitor for Vallivue in 1974. He then entered Boise State University and became a star quarterback playing football for them.
In 1976, he was 2nd in the nation for offense in Division 1-AA. Boise State inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1984.
Dee was always a cowboy at heart. From an early age, he was active in roping and subsequently, he became a World Champion Team Roper in 1984. The same year he had an outstanding calf roping season and was rewarded by being World Champion All-Around Cowboy of the Year.
Dee annually directs calf and team roping clinics for high school and elementary school participants. These clinics are all free for the participants. While doing all d1is roping, Dee roped and tied the Miss Rodeo of America for 1983 and made her his wife. He and Brenda have two daughters and a son who is now scholarship quarterback athlete ac the University of Washington. Dee was nominated as one of Idaho's Athletes of the Century by the World Humanitarian Hall of Fame in 1999.